getpot.h

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//  -*- c++ -*-
//  GetPot Version libMeshHPCT_fork-1.2                        Apr/14/2010
//  Based on "getpot-1.1.1.tgz" version from SourceForge
//
//  New code (C) 2009-2013 Roy Stogner, Karl Schulz
//
//  GetPot Version 1.0                                        Sept/13/2002
//
//  WEBSITE: http://getpot.sourceforge.net
//
//  This library is  free software; you can redistribute  it and/or modify
//  it  under  the terms  of  the GNU  Lesser  General  Public License  as
//  published by the  Free Software Foundation; either version  2.1 of the
//  License, or (at your option) any later version.
//
//  This library  is distributed in the  hope that it will  be useful, but
//  WITHOUT   ANY  WARRANTY;   without  even   the  implied   warranty  of
//  MERCHANTABILITY  or FITNESS  FOR A  PARTICULAR PURPOSE.   See  the GNU
//  Lesser General Public License for more details.
//
//  You  should have  received a  copy of  the GNU  Lesser  General Public
//  License along  with this library; if  not, write to  the Free Software
//  Foundation, Inc.,  59 Temple Place,  Suite 330, Boston,  MA 02111-1307
//  USA
//
//  (C) 2001-2002 Frank R. Schaefer
//==========================================================================
#ifndef LIBMESH_GETPOT_H
#define LIBMESH_GETPOT_H

#if defined(WIN32) || defined(SOLARIS_RAW) || (__GNUC__ == 2) || defined(__HP_aCC)
#define strtok_r(a, b, c) strtok(a, b)
#endif // WINDOWS or SOLARIS or gcc 2.* or HP aCC

#include <algorithm>
#include <cstddef>
#include <fstream>
#include <iostream> // not every compiler distribution includes <iostream> with <fstream>
#include <set>
#include <sstream>
#include <stdexcept>
#include <string>
#include <typeinfo>
#include <vector>

#include <cmath>
#include <cstdlib>
#include <ctime>

extern "C" {
#include <stdarg.h> // --> va_list and friends
#include <string.h> // --> strcmp, strncmp, strlen, strncpy
}

// Undefine USE_LIBMESH to avoid libMesh-specific code

#define USE_LIBMESH 1

#ifdef USE_LIBMESH

#include "libmesh/libmesh_common.h"

// We need a mutex to keep const operations thread-safe in the
// presence of mutable containers.  Right now GetPot supports a
// Threads::scoped_mutex wrapper around TBB, and we're assuming that
// users aren't doing any threaded GetPot usage when TBB threads are
// disabled.
#if !defined(GETPOT_DISABLE_MUTEX)
#include "libmesh/threads.h"
#define SCOPED_MUTEX  libMesh::Threads::spin_mutex::scoped_lock lock(_getpot_mtx)
#else
#define SCOPED_MUTEX
#endif

#define getpot_cerr libMesh::err
#define getpot_error() libmesh_error()
#define getpot_file_error(filename) libmesh_file_error(filename)
#define getpot_cast_int libMesh::cast_int

#else // USE_LIBMESH

// Currently threaded GetPot use is only supported via libMesh Threads
#define SCOPED_MUTEX

#define getpot_cerr std::cerr
#define getpot_error() throw std::runtime_error(std::string("GetPot Error"))
#define getpot_file_error(filename) getpot_error()
#define getpot_cast_int static_cast

#endif

// Clang provides the __has_builtin macro, we define it for compilers
// that don't...
#ifndef __has_builtin
#define __has_builtin(x) 0
#endif

// Fine-grained ifdefs for all three inverse hyperbolic trig
// functions.  This works for the two clang compilers I tried it
// on... a hand-built one and one from Apple.
#if __cplusplus > 199711L && (!defined(__clang__) || __has_builtin(asinh))
#define HAVE_INVERSE_HYPERBOLIC_SINE
#endif

#if __cplusplus > 199711L && (!defined(__clang__) || __has_builtin(acosh))
#define HAVE_INVERSE_HYPERBOLIC_COSINE
#endif

#if __cplusplus > 199711L && (!defined(__clang__) || __has_builtin(atanh))
#define HAVE_INVERSE_HYPERBOLIC_TANGENT
#endif

typedef  std::vector<std::string>  STRING_VECTOR;

#define victorate(TYPE, VARIABLE, ITERATOR)                             \
  std::vector<TYPE>::const_iterator ITERATOR = (VARIABLE).begin();      \
  for (; (ITERATOR) != (VARIABLE).end(); ++(ITERATOR))

// We allow GETPOT_NAMESPACE to be defined before this file is
// included; if libraries using two different versions of GetPot might
// be linked together, the result may be unsafe unless they're put in
// different namespaces.
#ifdef GETPOT_NAMESPACE
namespace GETPOT_NAMESPACE {
#endif

class GetPot
{
  inline void _basic_initialization();

public:
  inline GetPot();
  inline GetPot(const GetPot&);
  inline GetPot(const int argc_, const char* const* argv_,
                const char* FieldSeparator=0x0);
  inline GetPot(const char* FileName,
                const char* CommentStart=0x0, const char* CommentEnd=0x0,
                const char* FieldSeparator=0x0);
  inline GetPot(const std::string& FileName,
                const std::string& CommentStart   = std::string("#"),
                const std::string& CommentEnd     = std::string("\n"),
                const std::string& FieldSeparator = std::string(" \t\n"));
  inline ~GetPot();
  inline GetPot& operator=(const GetPot&);

  inline void parse_command_line(const int argc_, const char * const* argv_,
                                 const char* FieldSeparator =0x0);
  inline void parse_input_file(const std::string& FileName,
                               const std::string& CommentStart=std::string("#"),
                               const std::string& CommentEnd=std::string("\n"),
                               const std::string& FieldSeparator=std::string(" \t\n"));

  inline void absorb(const GetPot& Other);

  inline void clear_requests();
  inline void disable_request_recording() { request_recording_f = false; }
  inline void enable_request_recording() { request_recording_f = true; }

  inline const char* operator[](unsigned Idx) const;

  template <typename T>
  inline T get(unsigned Idx, const T& Default) const;

  inline const char* get(unsigned Idx, const char* Default) const;
  inline unsigned size() const;

  inline bool options_contain(const char* FlagList) const;
  inline bool argument_contains(unsigned Idx, const char* FlagList) const;

  inline bool have_variable(const char* VarName) const;
  inline bool have_variable(const std::string& VarName) const;

  bool have_section(const char* section_name) const;

  bool have_section(const std::string& section_name) const;

  template<typename T>
  inline T operator()(const char* VarName, const T& Default) const;

  template<typename T>
  inline T operator()(const std::string& VarName, const T& Default) const;

  inline const char* operator()(const char* VarName, const char* Default) const;
  inline const char* operator()(const std::string& VarName, const char* Default) const;

  template<typename T>
  inline T operator()(const char* VarName, const T& Default, unsigned Idx) const;

  template<typename T>
  inline T operator()(const std::string& VarName, const T& Default, unsigned Idx) const;

  inline const char* operator()(const char* VarName, const char* Default, unsigned Idx) const;
  inline const char* operator()(const std::string& VarName, const char* Default, unsigned Idx) const;

  template<typename T>
  inline T get_value_no_default(const char* VarName, const T& Default) const;

  template<typename T>
  inline T get_value_no_default(const std::string& VarName, const T& Default) const;

  inline const char* get_value_no_default(const char* VarName, const char* Default) const;
  inline const char* get_value_no_default(const std::string& VarName, const char* Default) const;

  template<typename T>
  inline T get_value_no_default(const char* VarName, const T& Default, unsigned Idx) const;

  template<typename T>
  inline T get_value_no_default(const std::string& VarName, const T& Default, unsigned Idx) const;

  inline const char* get_value_no_default(const char* VarName, const char* Default, unsigned Idx) const;
  inline const char* get_value_no_default(const std::string& VarName, const char* Default, unsigned Idx) const;

  template<typename T>
  inline void set(const char* VarName, const T& Value, const bool Requested = true);

  template<typename T>
  inline void set(const std::string& VarName, const T& Value, const bool Requested = true);

  inline void set(const char* VarName, const char* Value, const bool Requested = true);
  inline void set(const std::string& VarName, const char* Value, const bool Requested = true);

  inline unsigned vector_variable_size(const char* VarName) const;
  inline unsigned vector_variable_size(const std::string& VarName) const;
  inline STRING_VECTOR get_variable_names() const;
  inline STRING_VECTOR get_section_names() const;
  inline std::set<std::string> get_overridden_variables() const;

  inline void set_prefix(const char* Prefix) { prefix = std::string(Prefix); }
  inline bool search_failed() const { return search_failed_f; }

  inline void disable_loop() { search_loop_f = false; }
  inline void enable_loop()  { search_loop_f = true; }

  inline void reset_cursor();
  inline void init_multiple_occurrence();

  inline bool search(const char* option);
  inline bool search(const std::string& option);
  inline bool search(unsigned No, const char* P, ...);

  template<typename T>
  inline T next(const T& Default);

  inline const char* next(const char* Default);

  template<typename T>
  inline T follow(const T& Default, const char* Option);

  inline const char* follow(const char* Default, const char* Option);

  template<typename T>
  inline T follow(const T& Default, unsigned No, const char* Option, ...);

  inline const char* follow(const char* Default, unsigned No, const char* Option, ...);

  template<typename T>
  inline T direct_follow(const T& Default, const char* Option);

  inline const char* direct_follow(const char* Default, const char* Option);

  inline void reset_nominus_cursor();
  inline STRING_VECTOR nominus_vector() const;
  inline unsigned nominus_size() const { return getpot_cast_int<unsigned>(idx_nominus.size()); }
  inline const char* next_nominus();
  inline std::string next_nominus_string();

  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_arguments(unsigned Number, const char* Known, ...) const;
  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_arguments(const std::set<std::string>& Knowns) const;
  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_arguments(const std::vector<std::string>& Knowns) const;
  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_arguments() const;

  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_options(unsigned Number, const char* Known, ...) const;
  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_options(const std::set<std::string>& Knowns) const;
  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_options(const std::vector<std::string>& Knowns) const;
  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_options() const;

  inline std::string unidentified_flags(const char* Known, int ArgumentNumber /* =-1 */) const;

  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_variables(unsigned Number, const char* Known, ...) const;
  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_variables(const std::set<std::string>& Knowns) const;
  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_variables(const std::vector<std::string>& Knowns) const;
  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_variables() const;

  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_sections(unsigned Number, const char* Known, ...) const;
  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_sections(const std::set<std::string>& Knowns) const;
  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_sections(const std::vector<std::string>& Knowns) const;
  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_sections() const;

  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_nominuses(unsigned Number, const char* Known, ...) const;
  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_nominuses(const std::set<std::string>& Knowns) const;
  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_nominuses(const std::vector<std::string>& Knowns) const;
  inline STRING_VECTOR unidentified_nominuses() const;

  inline int print(std::ostream &out_stream = std::cout) const;

  inline int print(const char *custom_prefix,
                   std::ostream &out_stream = std::cout,
                   unsigned int skip_count=1) const;

private:

  struct variable
  {
    variable();
    variable(const variable&);
    variable(const char* Name, const char* Value, const char* FieldSeparator);
    ~variable();
    variable& operator=(const variable& Other);

    void take(const char* Value, const char* FieldSeparator);

    const std::string* get_element(unsigned Idx) const;

    std::string name;      // identifier of variable
    STRING_VECTOR value;     // value of variable stored in vector
    std::string original;  // value of variable as given on command line
  };

  std::string prefix;          // prefix automatically added in queries
  std::string section;         // (for dollar bracket parsing)
  STRING_VECTOR section_list;    // list of all parsed sections

  STRING_VECTOR argv; // vector of command line arguments stored as strings
  unsigned cursor; // cursor for argv
  bool search_loop_f; // shall search start at beginning after reaching end of arg array ?
  bool search_failed_f; // flag indicating a failed search() operation (e.g. next() functions react with 'missed')
  std::set<std::string> overridden_vars; // vector of variables that were supplied more than once during parsing

  int nominus_cursor;  // cursor for nominus_pointers
  std::vector<unsigned> idx_nominus;     // indecies of 'no minus' arguments

  std::vector<variable> variables;

  std::string _comment_start;
  std::string _comment_end;

  std::string _field_separator;

  struct ltstr
  {
    bool operator()(const char* s1, const char* s2) const { return strcmp(s1, s2) < 0; }
  };

#if !defined(GETPOT_DISABLE_MUTEX)
  mutable libMesh::Threads::spin_mutex _getpot_mtx;
#endif

  mutable std::set<const char*, ltstr> _internal_string_container;

  const char* _internal_managed_copy(const std::string& Arg) const;

  mutable std::set<std::string> _requested_arguments;
  mutable std::set<std::string> _requested_variables;
  mutable std::set<std::string> _requested_sections;

  bool request_recording_f;   // speed: request recording can be turned off

  void _record_argument_request(const std::string& Arg) const;
  void _record_variable_request(const std::string& Arg) const;

  inline void _set_variable(const std::string& VarName,
                            const std::string& Value,
                            const bool Requested);

  inline void _parse_argument_vector(const STRING_VECTOR& ARGV);

  inline const variable* _find_variable(const char*) const;

  inline const variable* _request_variable(const char*) const;

  inline const char* _match_starting_string(const char* StartString);

  inline bool _check_flags(const std::string& Str, const char* FlagList) const;

  template<typename T>
  inline T _convert_to_type(const std::string& String, const T& Default) const;

  inline std::string _convert_to_type(const std::string& String, const char* Default) const;

  template<typename T>
  inline T _convert_to_type_no_default(const char* VarName, const std::string& String, const T& Default) const;

  inline std::string _convert_to_type_no_default(const char* VarName, const std::string& String, const char* Default) const;

  const std::string _get_remaining_string(const std::string& String,
                                          const std::string& Start) const;
  inline bool _search_string_vector(const STRING_VECTOR& Vec,
                                    const std::string& Str) const;

  inline void _skip_whitespace(std::istream& istr);
  inline const std::string _get_next_token(std::istream& istr);
  inline const std::string _get_string(std::istream& istr);
  inline const std::string _get_until_closing_bracket(std::istream& istr);
  inline const std::string _get_until_closing_square_bracket(std::istream& istr);

  inline STRING_VECTOR _read_in_stream(std::istream& istr);
  inline STRING_VECTOR _read_in_file(const std::string& FileName);
  inline std::string _process_section_label(const std::string& Section,
                                            STRING_VECTOR& section_stack);

  std::string _DBE_expand_string(const std::string& str);
  std::string _DBE_expand(const std::string& str);
  const GetPot::variable* _DBE_get_variable(const std::string& str);
  STRING_VECTOR _DBE_get_expr_list(const std::string& str, const unsigned ExpectedNumber);

  template <typename T>
  static std::string _convert_from_type(const T& Value)
  {
    std::ostringstream out_string;
    out_string << Value;
    return out_string.str();
  }

  static STRING_VECTOR _get_section_tree(const std::string& FullPath)
  {
    STRING_VECTOR   result;
    for (std::size_t pos = 0; pos != FullPath.size(); ++pos)
      {
        if (FullPath[pos] == '/')
          result.push_back(FullPath.substr(0,pos));
      }

    return result;
  }
};


// (*) constructors, destructor, assignment operator
//.............................................................................
//
inline void
GetPot::_basic_initialization()
{
  cursor = 0;
  nominus_cursor = -1;
  search_failed_f = true;
  search_loop_f = true;
  prefix = "";
  section = "";

  // automatic request recording for later ufo detection
  request_recording_f = true;

  // comment start and end strings
  _comment_start = std::string("#");
  _comment_end   = std::string("\n");

  // default: separate vector elements by whitespaces
  _field_separator = " \t\n";
}



inline
GetPot::GetPot() :
  prefix(),
  section(),
  section_list(),
  argv(),
  cursor(),
  search_loop_f(),
  search_failed_f(),
  nominus_cursor(),
  idx_nominus(),
  variables(),
  _comment_start(),
  _comment_end(),
  _field_separator(),
#if !defined(GETPOT_DISABLE_MUTEX)
  _getpot_mtx(),
#endif
  _internal_string_container(),
  _requested_arguments(),
  _requested_variables(),
  _requested_sections(),
  request_recording_f()
{
  _basic_initialization();
}



inline
GetPot::GetPot(const int argc_, const char * const * argv_,
               const char* FieldSeparator /* =0x0 */) :
  // leave 'char**' non-const to honor less capable compilers ...
  prefix(),
  section(),
  section_list(),
  argv(),
  cursor(),
  search_loop_f(),
  search_failed_f(),
  nominus_cursor(),
  idx_nominus(),
  variables(),
  _comment_start(),
  _comment_end(),
  _field_separator(),
#if !defined(GETPOT_DISABLE_MUTEX)
  _getpot_mtx(),
#endif
  _internal_string_container(),
  _requested_arguments(),
  _requested_variables(),
  _requested_sections(),
  request_recording_f()
{
  this->parse_command_line(argc_, argv_, FieldSeparator);
}



// leave 'char**' non-const to honor less capable compilers ...
inline void
GetPot::parse_command_line(const int argc_, const char * const * argv_,
                           const char* FieldSeparator /* =0x0 */)
{
  _basic_initialization();

  // if specified -> overwrite default string
  if (FieldSeparator)
    _field_separator = std::string(FieldSeparator);

  // -- make an internal copy of the argument list:
  STRING_VECTOR _apriori_argv;
  // -- for the sake of clarity: we do want to include the first
  //    argument of the first parsing source in the argument vector!
  //    it will not be a nominus argument, though. This gives us a
  //    minimum vector size of one which facilitates error checking
  //    in many functions. Also the user will be able to retrieve
  //    the name of his application or input file by "get[0]"
  _apriori_argv.push_back(std::string(argv_[0]));
  for (int i=1; i<argc_; i++)
    {
      std::string tmp(argv_[i]);   // recall the problem with temporaries,
      _apriori_argv.push_back(tmp);       // reference counting in arguement lists ...
    }
  _parse_argument_vector(_apriori_argv);
}



inline
GetPot::GetPot(const char* FileName,
               const char* CommentStart  /* = 0x0 */, const char* CommentEnd /* = 0x0 */,
               const char* FieldSeparator/* = 0x0 */) :
  prefix(),
  section(),
  section_list(),
  argv(),
  cursor(),
  search_loop_f(),
  search_failed_f(),
  nominus_cursor(),
  idx_nominus(),
  variables(),
  _comment_start(),
  _comment_end(),
  _field_separator(),
#if !defined(GETPOT_DISABLE_MUTEX)
  _getpot_mtx(),
#endif
  _internal_string_container(),
  _requested_arguments(),
  _requested_variables(),
  _requested_sections(),
  request_recording_f()
{
  const std::string& StrCommentStart   = CommentStart   ? CommentStart   : std::string("#");
  const std::string& StrCommentEnd     = CommentEnd     ? CommentEnd     : std::string("\n");
  const std::string& StrFieldSeparator = FieldSeparator ? FieldSeparator : std::string(" \t\n");
  this->parse_input_file(FileName, StrCommentStart, StrCommentEnd, StrFieldSeparator);
}



inline
GetPot::GetPot(const std::string& FileName,
               const std::string& CommentStart,
               const std::string& CommentEnd,
               const std::string& FieldSeparator) :
  prefix(),
  section(),
  section_list(),
  argv(),
  cursor(),
  search_loop_f(),
  search_failed_f(),
  nominus_cursor(),
  idx_nominus(),
  variables(),
  _comment_start(),
  _comment_end(),
  _field_separator(),
#if !defined(GETPOT_DISABLE_MUTEX)
  _getpot_mtx(),
#endif
  _internal_string_container(),
  _requested_arguments(),
  _requested_variables(),
  _requested_sections(),
  request_recording_f()
{
  this->parse_input_file(FileName, CommentStart, CommentEnd, FieldSeparator);
}



inline void
GetPot::parse_input_file(const std::string& FileName,
                         const std::string& CommentStart,
                         const std::string& CommentEnd,
                         const std::string& FieldSeparator)
{
  _basic_initialization();

  // overwrite default strings
  _comment_start = std::string(CommentStart);
  _comment_end   = std::string(CommentEnd);
  _field_separator = FieldSeparator;

  STRING_VECTOR _apriori_argv;
  // -- the first element of the argument vector stores the name of
  //    the first parsing source; however, this element is not
  //    parsed for variable assignments or nominuses.
  //
  //    Regardless, we don't add more than one name to the argument
  //    vector.
  _apriori_argv.push_back(FileName);

  STRING_VECTOR args = _read_in_file(FileName);
  _apriori_argv.insert(_apriori_argv.begin()+1, args.begin(), args.end());
  _parse_argument_vector(_apriori_argv);
}



inline
GetPot::GetPot(const GetPot& Other) :
  prefix(Other.prefix),
  section(Other.section),
  section_list(Other.section_list),
  argv(Other.argv),
  cursor(Other.cursor),
  search_loop_f(Other.search_loop_f),
  search_failed_f(Other.search_failed_f),
  overridden_vars(),
  nominus_cursor(Other.nominus_cursor),
  idx_nominus(Other.idx_nominus),
  variables(Other.variables),
  _comment_start(Other._comment_start),
  _comment_end(Other._comment_end),
  _field_separator(Other._field_separator),
  // #if !defined(GETPOT_DISABLE_MUTEX)
  //   _getpot_mtx(Other._getpot_mtx),
  // #endif
  _internal_string_container(),
  _requested_arguments(Other._requested_arguments),
  _requested_variables(Other._requested_variables),
  _requested_sections(Other._requested_sections),
  request_recording_f(Other.request_recording_f)
{
  std::set<const char*,ltstr>::const_iterator it =
    Other._internal_string_container.begin();

  const std::set<const char*,ltstr>::const_iterator end =
    Other._internal_string_container.end();

  for (; it != end; ++it)
    {
      const char* otherstr = *it;
      char* newcopy = new char[strlen(otherstr)+1];
      strncpy(newcopy, otherstr, strlen(otherstr)+1);
      this->_internal_string_container.insert(newcopy);
    }
}



inline
GetPot::~GetPot()
{
  // may be some return strings had to be created, delete now !
  std::set<const char*, ltstr>::const_iterator        it = _internal_string_container.begin();
  const std::set<const char*, ltstr>::const_iterator end = _internal_string_container.end();
  for (; it != end; ++it)
    delete [] *it;
}



inline GetPot&
GetPot::operator=(const GetPot& Other)
{
  if (&Other == this)
    return *this;

  prefix               = Other.prefix;
  section              = Other.section;
  section_list         = Other.section_list;
  argv                 = Other.argv;
  cursor               = Other.cursor;
  search_loop_f        = Other.search_loop_f;
  search_failed_f      = Other.search_failed_f;
  nominus_cursor       = Other.nominus_cursor;
  overridden_vars      = Other.overridden_vars;
  idx_nominus          = Other.idx_nominus;
  variables            = Other.variables;
  _comment_start       = Other._comment_start;
  _comment_end         = Other._comment_end;
  _field_separator     = Other._field_separator;
  // #if !defined(GETPOT_DISABLE_MUTEX)
  //   _getpot_mtx          = Other._getpot_mtx;
  // #endif
  _requested_arguments = Other._requested_arguments;
  _requested_variables = Other._requested_variables;
  _requested_sections  = Other._requested_sections;
  request_recording_f  = Other.request_recording_f;

  std::set<const char*, ltstr>::const_iterator        my_it =
    _internal_string_container.begin();
  const std::set<const char*, ltstr>::const_iterator my_end =
    _internal_string_container.end();

  for (; my_it != my_end; ++my_it)
    delete [] *my_it;

  _internal_string_container.clear();

  std::set<const char*,ltstr>::const_iterator it =
    Other._internal_string_container.begin();
  const std::set<const char*,ltstr>::const_iterator end =
    Other._internal_string_container.end();

  for (; it != end; ++it)
    {
      const char* otherstr = *it;
      char* newcopy = new char[strlen(otherstr)+1];
      strncpy(newcopy, otherstr, strlen(otherstr)+1);
      this->_internal_string_container.insert(newcopy);
    }

  return *this;
}



inline void
GetPot::absorb(const GetPot& Other)
{
  if (&Other == this)
    return;

  // variables that are not influenced by absorption:
  //               _comment_start
  //               _comment_end
  //               cursor
  //               nominus_cursor
  //               search_failed
  //               idx_nominus
  //               search_loop_f
  argv      = Other.argv;
  variables = Other.variables;

  if (request_recording_f)
    {
      // Get a lock before touching anything mutable
      SCOPED_MUTEX;

      _requested_arguments.insert(Other._requested_arguments.begin(), Other._requested_arguments.end());
      _requested_variables.insert(Other._requested_variables.begin(), Other._requested_variables.end());
      _requested_sections.insert(Other._requested_sections.begin(), Other._requested_sections.end());
    }
}



inline void
GetPot::clear_requests()
{
  // Get a lock before touching anything mutable
  SCOPED_MUTEX;

  _requested_arguments.clear();
  _requested_variables.clear();
  _requested_sections.clear();
}



inline void
GetPot::_parse_argument_vector(const STRING_VECTOR& ARGV)
{
  if (ARGV.empty())
    return;

  // build internal databases:
  //   1) array with no-minus arguments (usually used as filenames)
  //   2) variable assignments:
  //             'variable name' '=' number | string
  STRING_VECTOR                 section_stack;
  STRING_VECTOR::const_iterator it = ARGV.begin();


  section = "";

  // -- do not parse the first argument, so that this parsing source
  // name is not interpreted a s a nominus or so.  If we already
  // have parsed arguments, don't bother adding another parsing
  // source name
  if (argv.empty())
    argv.push_back(*it);
  ++it;

  // -- loop over remaining arguments
  for (; it != ARGV.end(); ++it)
    {
      std::string arg = *it;

      if (arg.length() == 0)
        continue;

      // -- [section] labels and [include file] directives
      if (arg.length() > 1 && arg[0] == '[' && arg[arg.length()-1] == ']')
        {

          // Is this an include file directive?
          std::size_t include_pos = arg.find("include ", 1);
          if (include_pos != std::string::npos)
            {

              const std::string includefile =
                _DBE_expand_string(arg.substr(9, arg.length()-9-include_pos));

              this->parse_input_file
                (includefile, _comment_start, _comment_end, _field_separator);
            }

          else
            {
              // (*) sections are considered 'requested arguments'
              if (request_recording_f)
                {
                  // Get a lock before touching anything mutable
                  SCOPED_MUTEX;

                  _requested_arguments.insert(arg);
                }

              const std::string Name = _DBE_expand_string(arg.substr(1, arg.length()-2));
              section = _process_section_label(Name, section_stack);
              // new section --> append to list of sections
              if (find(section_list.begin(), section_list.end(), section) == section_list.end())
                if (section.length() != 0) section_list.push_back(section);
              argv.push_back(arg);
            }
        }
      else
        {
          arg = section + _DBE_expand_string(arg);
          argv.push_back(arg);
        }

      // -- separate array for nominus arguments
      if (arg[0] != '-')
        idx_nominus.push_back(getpot_cast_int<unsigned>(argv.size()-1));

      // -- variables: does arg contain a '=' operator ?
      const std::size_t equals_pos = arg.find_first_of('=');
      if (equals_pos != std::string::npos)
        {
          // (*) record for later ufo detection
          //     arguments carriying variables are always treated as 'requested' arguments.
          //     unrequested variables have to be detected with the ufo-variable
          //     detection routine.
          if (request_recording_f)
            {
              // Get a lock before touching anything mutable
              SCOPED_MUTEX;

              _requested_arguments.insert(arg);
            }

          // => arg (from start to '=') = Name of variable
          //        (from '=' to end)   = value of variable
          _set_variable(arg.substr(0,equals_pos),
                        arg.substr(equals_pos+1), false);
        }
    }
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::_read_in_file(const std::string& FileName)
{
  std::ifstream  i(FileName.c_str());

  // if (!i) return STRING_VECTOR();

  if (!i)
    libmesh_file_error(FileName);

  // argv[0] == the filename of the file that was read in
  return _read_in_stream(i);
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::_read_in_stream(std::istream& istr)
{
  STRING_VECTOR  brute_tokens;
  while (istr)
    {
      _skip_whitespace(istr);
      const std::string Token = _get_next_token(istr);
      // Allow 'keyword =' to parse with an empty string as value.
      // Only break at EOF.
      // if (Token.length() == 0 || Token[0] == EOF) break;
      if (Token[0] == EOF)
        break;
      brute_tokens.push_back(Token);
    }

  // -- reduce expressions of token1'='token2 to a single
  //    string 'token1=token2'
  // -- copy everything into 'argv'
  // -- arguments preceded by something like '[' name ']' (section)
  //    produce a second copy of each argument with a prefix '[name]argument'
  unsigned i1 = 0;
  unsigned i2 = 1;
  unsigned i3 = 2;

  STRING_VECTOR  arglist;
  while (i1 < brute_tokens.size())
    {
      // 1) concatenate 'abcdef' '=' 'efgasdef' to 'abcdef=efgasdef'
      // note: java.lang.String: substring(a,b) = from a to b-1
      //        C++ string:      substr(a,b)    = from a to a + b
      std::string result;
      if (i2 < brute_tokens.size() && brute_tokens[i2] == "=")
        {
          if (i3 >= brute_tokens.size())
            result = brute_tokens[i1] + brute_tokens[i2];
          else
            result = brute_tokens[i1] + brute_tokens[i2] + brute_tokens[i3];
          i1 = i3+1; i2 = i3+2; i3 = i3+3;
        }
      else if (i2 < brute_tokens.size() &&
               brute_tokens[i2].length() > 0 &&
               brute_tokens[i2][0] == '=')
        {
          // This case should not be hit if '=' at the beginning of a word
          //   is always separated into its own word
          result = brute_tokens[i1] + brute_tokens[i2];
          i1 = i3; i2 = i3+1; i3 = i3+2;
        }
      else if (i2 < brute_tokens.size() && brute_tokens[i1][brute_tokens[i1].size()-1] == '=')
        {
          result = brute_tokens[i1] + brute_tokens[i2];
          i1 = i3; i2 = i3+1; i3 = i3+2;
        }
      else
        {
          result = brute_tokens[i1];
          i1=i2; i2=i3; i3++;
        }

      // Now strip out any comment
      size_t comment_start_loc = result.find(_comment_start, 0);
      if (comment_start_loc != std::string::npos)
        result = result.substr(0, comment_start_loc);

      arglist.push_back(result);
    }
  return arglist;
}



inline void
GetPot::_skip_whitespace(std::istream& istr)
{
  // find next non-whitespace while deleting comments
  int tmp = istr.get();
  do {
    // -- search a non whitespace
    while (isspace(tmp))
      {
        tmp = istr.get();
        if (!istr)
          return;
      }

    // -- look if characters match the comment starter string
    for (unsigned i=0; i<_comment_start.length() ; i++)
      {
        if (tmp != _comment_start[i])
          {
            // -- one step more backwards, since 'tmp' already at non-whitespace
            istr.unget();
            return;
          }

        // RHS: Why is this here?  It breaks on empty comments
        //    tmp = istr.get();
        //    if (!istr) { istr.unget(); return; }
      }
    // 'tmp' contains last character of _comment_starter

    // -- comment starter found -> search for comment ender
    unsigned match_no=0;
    while (true)
      {
        tmp = istr.get();
        if (!istr)
          {
            istr.unget();
            return;
          }

        if (tmp == _comment_end[match_no])
          {
            match_no++;
            if (match_no == _comment_end.length())
              {
                istr.unget();
                break; // shuffle more whitespace, end of comment found
              }
          }
        else
          match_no = 0;
      }

    tmp = istr.get();

  } while (istr);
  istr.unget();
}



inline const std::string
GetPot::_get_next_token(std::istream& istr)
{
  // get next concatenates string token. consider quotes that embrace
  // whitespaces
  std::string token;
  int    tmp = 0;
  while (true)
    {
      int last_letter = tmp;
      tmp = istr.get();

      if (tmp == '=')
        {
          // Always break at '='.
          // This separates '=' at the beginning of a word into its own word.
          token += getpot_cast_int<char>(tmp);
          return token;
        }

      else if (tmp == EOF || ((tmp == ' ' || tmp == '\t' || tmp == '\n') && last_letter != '\\'))
        return token;

      else if (tmp == '\'' && last_letter != '\\')
        {
          // QUOTES: un-backslashed quotes => it's a string
          token += _get_string(istr);
          continue;
        }

      else if (tmp == '{' && last_letter == '$')
        {
          token += '{' + _get_until_closing_bracket(istr);
          continue;
        }

      else if (tmp == '[')
        {
          token += '[' + _get_until_closing_square_bracket(istr);
          continue;
        }

      else if (tmp == '$' && last_letter == '\\')
        {
          token += getpot_cast_int<char>(tmp); tmp = 0;  //  so that last_letter will become = 0, not '$';
          continue;
        }

      else if (tmp == '\\' && last_letter != '\\')
        continue;              // don't append un-backslashed backslashes

      token += getpot_cast_int<char>(tmp);
    }
}



inline const std::string
GetPot::_get_string(std::istream& istr)
{
  // parse input until next matching '
  std::string str;
  int    tmp = 0;
  while (true)
    {
      int last_letter = tmp;
      tmp = istr.get();
      if (tmp == EOF)
        return str;

      // un-backslashed quotes => it's the end of the string
      else if (tmp == '\'' && last_letter != '\\')
        return str;

      else if (tmp == '\\' && last_letter != '\\')
        continue; // don't append

      str += getpot_cast_int<char>(tmp);
    }
}



inline const std::string
GetPot::_get_until_closing_bracket(std::istream& istr)
{
  // parse input until next matching }
  std::string str = "";
  int    tmp = 0;
  int    brackets = 1;
  while (true)
    {
      int last_letter = tmp;
      tmp = istr.get();
      if (tmp == EOF)
        return str;

      else if (tmp == '{' && last_letter == '$')
        brackets += 1;

      else if (tmp == '}')
        {
          brackets -= 1;
          // un-backslashed brackets => it's the end of the string
          if (brackets == 0)
            return str + '}';

          else if (tmp == '\\' && last_letter != '\\')
            continue;  // do not append an unbackslashed backslash
        }
      str += getpot_cast_int<char>(tmp);
    }
}



inline const std::string
GetPot::_get_until_closing_square_bracket(std::istream& istr)
{
  // parse input until next matching ]
  std::string str = "";
  int    brackets = 1;
  while (true)
    {
      int tmp = istr.get();
      if (tmp == EOF)
        return str;

      else if (tmp == '[')
        brackets += 1;

      else if (tmp == ']')
        {
          brackets -= 1;
          if (brackets == 0)
            return str + ']';
        }

      str += getpot_cast_int<char>(tmp);
    }
}



inline std::string
GetPot::_process_section_label(const std::string& Section,
                               STRING_VECTOR& section_stack)
{
  std::string sname = Section;
  //  1) subsection of actual section ('./' prefix)
  if (sname.length() >= 2 && sname.substr(0, 2) == "./")
    sname = sname.substr(2);

  //  2) subsection of parent section ('../' prefix)
  else if (sname.length() >= 3 && sname.substr(0, 3) == "../")
    {
      do
        {
          if (section_stack.end() != section_stack.begin())
            section_stack.pop_back();
          sname = sname.substr(3);
        } while (sname.substr(0, 3) == "../");
    }

  // 3) subsection of the root-section
  else
    // [] => back to root section
    section_stack.erase(section_stack.begin(), section_stack.end());

  if (sname != "")
    {
      // parse section name for 'slashes'
      unsigned i=0;
      while (i < sname.length())
        {
          if (sname[i] == '/')
            {
              section_stack.push_back(sname.substr(0,i));
              if (i+1 < sname.length())
                sname = sname.substr(i+1);
              i = 0;
            }
          else
            i++;
        }
      section_stack.push_back(sname);
    }

  std::string section_label = "";
  if (!section_stack.empty())
    {
      victorate(std::string, section_stack, it)
        section_label += *it + "/";
    }
  return section_label;
}



// Use C++ istream/ostream to handle most type conversions.
template <typename T>
inline T
GetPot::_convert_to_type(const std::string& String, const T& Default) const
{
  std::istringstream in_string(String);
  T retval;
  in_string >> retval;
  if (in_string.fail())
    retval = Default;
  return retval;
}



// copy string - operator>> would have stopped upon seeing whitespace!
template <>
inline std::string
GetPot::_convert_to_type(const std::string& String, const std::string&) const
{
  return String;
}



// copy string
inline std::string
GetPot::_convert_to_type(const std::string& String, const char*) const
{
  return String;
}



// be more liberal than std C++ in what we interpret as a boolean
template<>
inline bool
GetPot::_convert_to_type<bool>(const std::string& String, const bool& Default) const
{
  std::string newstring(String);
  //std::transform(newstring.begin(), newstring.end(), newstring.begin(), std::toupper);
  for (unsigned int i=0; i<newstring.length(); ++i)
    newstring[i] = getpot_cast_int<char>(toupper(newstring[i]));

  // "true"/"True"/"TRUE" should work
  if (newstring.find("TRUE")!=std::string::npos)
    return true;

  if (newstring.find("FALSE")!=std::string::npos)
    return false;

  // And if we don't find that, let's search for an integer and use C unsigned
  // int->bool conversion before giving up; i.e. a user could specify "0" for
  // false or "1" for true
  std::istringstream in_string(String);
  unsigned int retval;
  in_string >> retval;
  if (in_string.fail())
    return Default;

  return retval;
}



// Use C++ istream/ostream to handle most type conversions.
template <typename T>
inline T
GetPot::_convert_to_type_no_default(const char* VarName, const std::string& String, const T&) const
{
  std::istringstream in_string(String);
  T retval;
  in_string >> retval;
  if (in_string.fail())
    {
      getpot_cerr <<"ERROR: Input value for variable "<<VarName<<" is of the wrong type."<<std::endl;
      getpot_cerr <<"       value = "<<String<<" expected type = "<<typeid(T).name()<<std::endl;
      getpot_error();
    }
  return retval;
}



// copy string - operator>> would have stopped upon seeing whitespace!
template <>
inline std::string
GetPot::_convert_to_type_no_default(const char*, const std::string& String, const std::string&) const
{
  return String;
}



// copy string
inline std::string
GetPot::_convert_to_type_no_default(const char*, const std::string& String, const char*) const
{
  return String;
}



// be more liberal than std C++ in what we interpret as a boolean
template<>
inline bool
GetPot::_convert_to_type_no_default<bool>(const char* VarName, const std::string& String, const bool&) const
{
  std::string newstring(String);
  //std::transform(newstring.begin(), newstring.end(), newstring.begin(), std::toupper);
  for (unsigned int i=0; i<newstring.length(); ++i)
    {
      newstring[i]=getpot_cast_int<char>(toupper(newstring[i]));
    }

  // "true"/"True"/"TRUE" should work
  if (newstring.find("TRUE")!=std::string::npos)
    return true;

  if (newstring.find("FALSE")!=std::string::npos)
    return false;

  // And if we don't find that, let's search for an integer and use C unsigned
  // int->bool conversion before giving up; i.e. a user could specify "0" for
  // false or "1" for true
  std::istringstream in_string(String);
  unsigned int retval;
  in_string >> retval;
  if (in_string.fail())
    {
      getpot_cerr <<"ERROR: Input value for variable "<<VarName<<" is of the wrong type."<<std::endl;
      getpot_cerr <<"       value = "<<String<<" expected type = "<<typeid(bool).name()<<std::endl;
      getpot_error();
    }

  return retval;
}



inline const char*
GetPot::_internal_managed_copy(const std::string& Arg) const
{
  const char* arg = Arg.c_str();

  // Get a lock before touching anything mutable
  SCOPED_MUTEX;

  // See if there's already an identical string saved
  std::set<const char*,ltstr>::const_iterator it =
    _internal_string_container.find(arg);

  // If so, return it
  if (it != _internal_string_container.end())
    return *it;

  // Otherwise, create a new one
  char* newcopy = new char[strlen(arg)+1];
  strncpy(newcopy, arg, strlen(arg)+1);
  _internal_string_container.insert(newcopy);
  return newcopy;
}



// (*) cursor oriented functions
//.............................................................................

// Checks if 'String' begins with 'Start' and returns the remaining String.
// Returns None if String does not begin with Start.
inline const std::string
GetPot::_get_remaining_string(const std::string& String, const std::string& Start) const
{
  if (Start == "")
    return String;

  // note: java.lang.String: substring(a,b) = from a to b-1
  //        C++ string:      substr(a,b)    = from a to a + b
  if (String.find(Start) == 0)
    return String.substr(Start.length());

  else
    return "";
}



// -- search for a certain argument and set cursor to position
inline bool
GetPot::search(const std::string &Option)
{
  return search(Option.c_str());
}



// -- search for a certain argument and set cursor to position
inline bool
GetPot::search(const char* Option)
{
  unsigned           OldCursor = cursor;
  const std::string  SearchTerm = prefix + Option;

  // (*) record requested arguments for later ufo detection
  _record_argument_request(SearchTerm);

  if (OldCursor >= argv.size())
    OldCursor = getpot_cast_int<unsigned>(argv.size() - 1);
  search_failed_f = true;

  // (*) first loop from cursor position until end
  for (unsigned c = cursor; c < argv.size(); c++)
    {
      if (argv[c] == SearchTerm)
        {
          cursor = c;
          search_failed_f = false;
          return true;
        }
    }
  if (!search_loop_f)
    return false;

  // (*) second loop from 0 to old cursor position
  for (unsigned c = 1; c < OldCursor; c++)
    {
      if (argv[c] == SearchTerm)
        {
          cursor = c;
          search_failed_f = false;
          return true;
        }
    }

  // in case nothing is found the cursor stays where it was
  return false;
}



inline bool
GetPot::search(unsigned No, const char* P, ...)
{
  // (*) recording the requested arguments happens in subroutine 'search'
  if (No == 0)
    return false;

  // search for the first argument
  if (search(P) == true)
    return true;

  // start interpreting variable argument list
  va_list ap;
  va_start(ap, P);
  unsigned i = 1;
  for (; i < No; i++)
    {
      char* Opt = va_arg(ap, char *);
      // (*) search records itself for later ufo detection
      if (search(Opt) == true)
        break;
    }

  if (i < No)
    {
      i++;
      // loop was left before end of array --> hit but
      // make sure that the rest of the search terms is marked
      // as requested.
      for (; i < No; i++)
        {
          char* Opt = va_arg(ap, char *);
          // (*) record requested arguments for later ufo detection
          _record_argument_request(Opt);
        }
      va_end(ap);
      return true;
    }

  va_end(ap);
  // loop was left normally --> no hit
  return false;
}



inline void
GetPot::reset_cursor()
{
  search_failed_f = false;
  cursor = 0;
}



inline void
GetPot::init_multiple_occurrence()
{
  disable_loop();
  reset_cursor();
}



// (*) direct access to command line arguments
//.............................................................................
//
inline const char*
GetPot::operator[](unsigned idx) const
{
  return idx<argv.size() ? argv[idx].c_str() : 0;
}



template <typename T>
inline T
GetPot::get(unsigned int Idx, const T& Default) const
{
  if (Idx >= argv.size())
    return Default;
  return _convert_to_type(argv[Idx], Default);
}



inline const char*
GetPot::get(unsigned int Idx, const char* Default) const
{
  if (Idx >= argv.size())
    return Default;
  return argv[Idx].c_str();
}



inline unsigned
GetPot::size() const
{
  return getpot_cast_int<unsigned>(argv.size());
}



// -- next() function group
template <typename T>
inline T
GetPot::next(const T& Default)
{
  if (search_failed_f)
    return Default;
  cursor++;
  if (cursor >= argv.size())
    {
      cursor = getpot_cast_int<unsigned>(argv.size());
      return Default;
    }

  // (*) record requested argument for later ufo detection
  _record_argument_request(argv[cursor]);

  const std::string Remain = _get_remaining_string(argv[cursor], prefix);

  return Remain != "" ? _convert_to_type(Remain, Default) : Default;
}



inline const char*
GetPot::next(const char* Default)
{
  return _internal_managed_copy(next(std::string(Default)));
}



// -- follow() function group
//    distinct option to be searched for
template <typename T>
inline T
GetPot::follow(const T& Default, const char* Option)
{
  // (*) record requested of argument is entirely handled in 'search()' and 'next()'
  if (search(Option) == false)
    return Default;

  return next(Default);
}



inline const char*
GetPot::follow(const char* Default, const char* Option)
{
  return _internal_managed_copy(follow(std::string(Default), Option));
}



// -- second follow() function group
//    multiple option to be searched for
template <typename T>
inline T
GetPot::follow(const T& Default, unsigned int No, const char* P, ...)
{
  // (*) record requested of argument is entirely handled in 'search()' and 'next()'
  if (No == 0)
    return Default;

  if (search(P) == true)
    return next(Default);

  va_list ap;
  va_start(ap, P);
  for (unsigned i=1; i<No; i++)
    {
      char* Opt = va_arg(ap, char *);
      if (search(Opt) == true)
        {
          va_end(ap);
          return next(Default);
        }
    }
  va_end(ap);
  return Default;
}



inline const char*
GetPot::follow(const char* Default, unsigned No, const char* P, ...)
{
  // (*) record requested of argument is entirely handled in 'search()' and 'next()'
  if (No == 0)
    return Default;

  if (search(P) == true)
    return next(Default);

  va_list ap;
  va_start(ap, P);
  for (unsigned i=1; i<No; i++)
    {
      char* Opt = va_arg(ap, char *);
      if (search(Opt) == true)
        {
          va_end(ap);
          return next(Default);
        }
    }
  va_end(ap);
  return Default;
}



// (*) directly connected options
//.............................................................................
//
template <typename T>
inline T
GetPot::direct_follow(const T& Default, const char* Option)
{
  const char* FollowStr = _match_starting_string(Option);

  // (*) record requested of argument for later ufo-detection
  _record_argument_request(std::string(Option) + FollowStr);

  if (FollowStr == 0)
    return Default;

  if (++cursor >= argv.size())
    cursor = getpot_cast_int<unsigned>(argv.size());
  return _convert_to_type(FollowStr, Default);
}



inline const char*
GetPot::direct_follow(const char* Default, const char* Option)
{
  return _internal_managed_copy(direct_follow(std::string(Default), Option));
}



// pointer  to the place where the string after
//          the match inside the found argument starts.
// 0        no argument matches the starting string.
inline const char*
GetPot::_match_starting_string(const char* StartString)
{
  const unsigned N =
    getpot_cast_int<unsigned>(strlen(StartString));
  unsigned       OldCursor = cursor;

  if (OldCursor >= argv.size())
    OldCursor = getpot_cast_int<unsigned>(argv.size() - 1);
  search_failed_f = true;

  // (*) first loop from cursor position until end
  for (unsigned c = cursor; c < argv.size(); c++)
    {
      if (strncmp(StartString, argv[c].c_str(), N) == 0)
        {
          cursor = c;
          search_failed_f = false;
          return &(argv[c].c_str()[N]);
        }
    }

  if (!search_loop_f)
    return NULL;

  // (*) second loop from 0 to old cursor position
  for (unsigned c = 1; c < OldCursor; c++)
    {
      if (strncmp(StartString, argv[c].c_str(), N) == 0)
        {
          cursor = c;
          search_failed_f = false;
          return &(argv[c].c_str()[N]);
        }
    }
  return 0;
}



// (*) search for flags
//.............................................................................
//
inline bool
GetPot::options_contain(const char* FlagList) const
{
  // go through all arguments that start with a '-' (but not '--')
  std::string str;
  STRING_VECTOR::const_iterator it = argv.begin();
  for (; it != argv.end(); ++it)
    {
      str = _get_remaining_string(*it, prefix);

      if (str.length() >= 2 && str[0] == '-' && str[1] != '-')
        if (_check_flags(str, FlagList))
          return true;
    }
  return false;
}



inline bool
GetPot::argument_contains(unsigned Idx, const char* FlagList) const
{
  if (Idx >= argv.size())
    return false;

  // (*) record requested of argument for later ufo-detection
  //     an argument that is checked for flags is considered to be 'requested'
  _record_argument_request(argv[Idx]);

  if (prefix == "")
    // search argument for any flag in flag list
    return _check_flags(argv[Idx], FlagList);

  // if a prefix is set, then the argument index is the index
  //   inside the 'namespace'
  // => only check list of arguments that start with prefix
  unsigned no_matches = 0;
  for (unsigned i=0; i<argv.size(); i++)
    {
      const std::string Remain = _get_remaining_string(argv[i], prefix);
      if (Remain != "")
        {
          no_matches += 1;
          if (no_matches == Idx)
            return _check_flags(Remain, FlagList);
        }
    }

  // no argument in this namespace
  return false;
}



inline bool
GetPot::_check_flags(const std::string& Str, const char* FlagList) const
{
  for (const char* p=FlagList; *p != '\0' ; p++)
    if (Str.find(*p) != std::string::npos)
      return true; // found something
  return false;
}



// (*) nominus arguments

// return vector of nominus arguments
inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::nominus_vector() const
{
  STRING_VECTOR nv;
  std::vector<unsigned>::const_iterator it = idx_nominus.begin();
  for (; it != idx_nominus.end(); ++it)
    {
      nv.push_back(argv[*it]);

      // (*) record for later ufo-detection
      //     when a nominus vector is requested, the entire set of nominus arguments are
      //     tagged as 'requested'
      _record_argument_request(argv[*it]);
    }
  return nv;
}



inline const char*
GetPot::next_nominus()
{
  if (nominus_cursor < int(idx_nominus.size()) - 1)
    {
      const std::string Tmp = argv[idx_nominus[++nominus_cursor]];

      // (*) record for later ufo-detection
      _record_argument_request(Tmp);

      return _internal_managed_copy(Tmp);
    }

  return 0;
}


inline std::string
GetPot::next_nominus_string()
{
  if (nominus_cursor < int(idx_nominus.size()) - 1)
    {
      const std::string Tmp = argv[idx_nominus[++nominus_cursor]];

      // (*) record for later ufo-detection
      _record_argument_request(Tmp);

      return Tmp;
    }

  return "";
}



inline void
GetPot::reset_nominus_cursor()
{
  nominus_cursor = -1;
}



// (*) variables
//.............................................................................
//
inline bool
GetPot::have_variable(const char* VarName) const
{
  const variable* sv = _request_variable(VarName);

  if (sv == 0)
    return false;

  return true;
}



inline bool
GetPot::have_variable(const std::string& VarName) const
{
  return have_variable(VarName.c_str());
}

inline bool
GetPot::have_section(const char* section_name) const
{
  std::string s = std::string(section_name);
  return this->have_section(s);
}

inline bool
GetPot::have_section(const std::string& section_name) const
{
  const char slash('/');

  std::string::const_reverse_iterator it = section_name.rbegin();

  bool found_section = false;

  /* Check if section_name ends with a "/". If not, append it for the search since
     the section names are stored with a "/" at the end.*/
  if( (*it) != slash )
    /* We need to use a linear search because we can't sort section_list
     without violating some assumptions. See libMesh #481 for more discussion. */
    found_section = ( std::find(section_list.begin(), section_list.end(), section_name+slash) != section_list.end() );
  else
    found_section = ( std::find(section_list.begin(), section_list.end(), section_name) != section_list.end() );

  return found_section;
}

template <typename T>
inline T
GetPot::operator()(const char* VarName, const T& Default) const
{
  // (*) recording of requested variables happens in '_request_variable()'
  const variable*  sv = _request_variable(VarName);

  if (sv == 0)
    return Default;

  return _convert_to_type(sv->original, Default);
}



template <typename T>
inline T
GetPot::operator()(const std::string& VarName, const T& Default) const
{
  return operator()(VarName.c_str(), Default);
}



inline const char*
GetPot::operator()(const char* VarName, const char* Default) const
{
  return _internal_managed_copy(operator()(VarName, std::string(Default)));
}



inline const char*
GetPot::operator()(const std::string& VarName, const char* Default) const
{
  return operator()(VarName.c_str(), Default);
}



template <typename T>
inline T
GetPot::operator()(const char* VarName, const T& Default, unsigned int Idx) const
{
  // (*) recording of requested variables happens in '_request_variable()'
  const variable* sv = _request_variable(VarName);
  if (sv == 0)
    return Default;

  const std::string*  element = sv->get_element(Idx);
  if (element == 0)
    return Default;
  return _convert_to_type(*element, Default);
}



template <typename T>
inline T
GetPot::operator()(const std::string& VarName, const T& Default, unsigned int Idx) const
{
  return operator()(VarName.c_str(), Default, Idx);
}



inline const char*
GetPot::operator()(const char* VarName, const char* Default, unsigned int Idx) const
{
  return _internal_managed_copy(operator()(VarName, std::string(Default), Idx));
}



inline const char*
GetPot::operator()(const std::string& VarName, const char* Default, unsigned int Idx) const
{
  return operator()(VarName.c_str(), Default, Idx);
}



template <typename T>
inline T
GetPot::get_value_no_default(const char* VarName, const T& Default) const
{
  // (*) recording of requested variables happens in '_request_variable()'
  const variable*  sv = _request_variable(VarName);
  if (sv == 0)
    {
      getpot_cerr << "ERROR: cannot find variable "<<VarName<<std::endl;
      getpot_error();
    }
  return _convert_to_type_no_default(VarName, sv->original, Default);
}



template <typename T>
inline T
GetPot::get_value_no_default(const std::string& VarName, const T& Default) const
{
  return get_value_no_default(VarName.c_str(),Default);
}



inline const char*
GetPot::get_value_no_default(const char* VarName, const char* Default) const
{
  return _internal_managed_copy(get_value_no_default(VarName, Default));
}



inline const char*
GetPot::get_value_no_default(const std::string& VarName, const char* Default) const
{
  return get_value_no_default(VarName.c_str(),Default);
}



template <typename T>
inline T
GetPot::get_value_no_default(const char* VarName, const T& Default, unsigned int Idx) const
{
  // (*) recording of requested variables happens in '_request_variable()'
  const variable* sv = _request_variable(VarName);
  if (sv == 0)
    {
      getpot_cerr << "ERROR: cannot find variable "<<VarName<<std::endl;
      getpot_error();
    }

  const std::string*  element = sv->get_element(Idx);
  if (element == 0)
    {
      getpot_cerr << "ERROR: cannot find index "<<Idx<<" of variable "<<VarName<<std::endl;
      getpot_error();
    }
  return _convert_to_type_no_default(VarName, *element, Default);
}



template <typename T>
inline T
GetPot::get_value_no_default(const std::string& VarName, const T& Default, unsigned int Idx) const
{
  return get_value_no_default(VarName.c_str(), Default, Idx);
}



inline const char*
GetPot::get_value_no_default(const char* VarName, const char* Default, unsigned int Idx) const
{
  return _internal_managed_copy(get_value_no_default(VarName, std::string(Default), Idx));
}



inline const char*
GetPot::get_value_no_default(const std::string& VarName, const char* Default, unsigned int Idx) const
{
  return get_value_no_default(VarName.c_str(), Default, Idx);
}



inline void
GetPot::_record_argument_request(const std::string& Name) const
{
  if (!request_recording_f)
    return;

  // Get a lock before touching anything mutable
  SCOPED_MUTEX;

  // (*) record requested variable for later ufo detection
  _requested_arguments.insert(Name);

  // (*) record considered section for ufo detection
  STRING_VECTOR      STree = _get_section_tree(Name);
  victorate(std::string, STree, it)
    if (_requested_sections.find(*it) == _requested_sections.end())
      if (section.length() != 0)
        _requested_sections.insert(*it);
}



inline void
GetPot::_record_variable_request(const std::string& Name) const
{
  if (!request_recording_f)
    return;

  // Get a lock before touching anything mutable
  SCOPED_MUTEX;

  // (*) record requested variable for later ufo detection
  _requested_variables.insert(Name);

  // (*) record considered section for ufo detection
  STRING_VECTOR      STree = _get_section_tree(Name);
  victorate(std::string, STree, it)
    if (_requested_sections.find(*it) == _requested_sections.end())
      if (section.length() != 0)
        _requested_sections.insert(*it);
}



// (*) following functions are to be used from 'outside', after getpot has parsed its
//     arguments => append an argument in the argument vector that reflects the addition
inline void
GetPot::_set_variable(const std::string& VarName,
                      const std::string& Value, const bool Requested /* = true */)
{
  const GetPot::variable* Var = Requested ?
    _request_variable(VarName.c_str()) :
    _find_variable(VarName.c_str());
  if (Var == 0)
    variables.push_back(variable(VarName.c_str(), Value.c_str(), _field_separator.c_str()));
  else
    {
      overridden_vars.insert(VarName.c_str());
      (const_cast<GetPot::variable*>(Var))->take(Value.c_str(), _field_separator.c_str());
    }
}



template <typename T>
inline void
GetPot::set(const char* VarName, const T& Value, const bool Requested /* = true */)
{
  std::ostringstream string_value;
  string_value << Value;
  _set_variable(VarName, string_value.str().c_str(), Requested);
}



template <typename T>
inline void
GetPot::set(const std::string& VarName, const T& Value, const bool Requested /* = true */)
{
  set(VarName.c_str(), Value, Requested);
}



inline void
GetPot::set(const char* VarName, const char* Value, const bool Requested /* = true */)
{
  _set_variable(VarName, Value, Requested);
}



inline void
GetPot::set(const std::string& VarName, const char* Value, const bool Requested /* = true */)
{
  set(VarName.c_str(), Value, Requested);
}



inline unsigned
GetPot::vector_variable_size(const char* VarName) const
{
  const variable*  sv = _request_variable(VarName);
  if (sv == 0)
    return 0;
  return (unsigned)(sv->value.size());
}



inline unsigned
GetPot::vector_variable_size(const std::string& VarName) const
{
  return vector_variable_size(VarName.c_str());
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::get_variable_names() const
{
  STRING_VECTOR  result;
  std::vector<GetPot::variable>::const_iterator it = variables.begin();
  for (; it != variables.end(); ++it)
    {
      const std::string Tmp = _get_remaining_string((*it).name, prefix);
      if (Tmp != "")
        result.push_back(Tmp);
    }
  return result;
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::get_section_names() const
{
  return section_list;
}



inline std::set<std::string>
GetPot::get_overridden_variables() const
{
  return overridden_vars;
}



inline const GetPot::variable*
GetPot::_find_variable(const char* VarName) const
{
  const std::string Name = prefix + VarName;

  std::vector<variable>::const_iterator it = variables.begin();
  for (; it != variables.end(); ++it)
    {
      if ((*it).name == Name)
        return &(*it);
    }
  return 0;
}



inline const GetPot::variable*
GetPot::_request_variable(const char* VarName) const
{
  // (*) record requested variable for later ufo detection
  this->_record_variable_request(VarName);

  return this->_find_variable(VarName);
}



// (*) ouput (basically for debugging reasons
//.............................................................................
//
inline int
GetPot::print(std::ostream &out_stream) const
{
  out_stream << "argc = " << argv.size() << std::endl;
  STRING_VECTOR::const_iterator it = argv.begin();
  for (; it != argv.end(); ++it)
    out_stream << *it << std::endl;
  out_stream << std::endl;
  return 1;
}



// PECOS/HPCT Addition - add option to prepend output with a delimiter
// while also disabling argc print and skipping first print (the name
// of the input file)
//
// PECOS Development Team: (ks. 4/16/09)
inline int
GetPot::print(const char* custom_prefix, std::ostream &out_stream, unsigned int skip_count) const
{
  STRING_VECTOR::const_iterator it = argv.begin();
  it += skip_count;
  for (; it != argv.end(); ++it)
    {
      out_stream << custom_prefix;
      out_stream << *it << std::endl;
    }
  out_stream << std::endl;
  return 1;
}



// (*) dollar bracket expressions (DBEs) ------------------------------------
//
//     1) Entry Function: _DBE_expand_string()
//        Takes a string such as
//
//          "${+ ${x} ${y}}   Subject-${& ${section} ${subsection}}:   ${title}"
//
//        calls _DBE_expand() for each of the expressions
//
//           ${+ ${x} ${y}}
//           ${& ${section} ${subsection}}
//           ${Title}
//
//        and returns the string
//
//          "4711 Subject-1.01:   Mit den Clowns kamen die Schwaene"
//
//        assuming that
//            x          = "4699"
//            y          = "12"
//            section    = "1."
//            subsection = "01"
//            title      = "Mit den Clowns kamen die Schwaene"
//
//      2) _DBE_expand():
//
//           checks for the command, i.e. the 'sign' that follows '${'
//           divides the argument list into sub-expressions using
//           _DBE_get_expr_list()
//
//           ${+ ${x} ${y}}                 -> "${x}"  "${y}"
//           ${& ${section} ${subsection}}  -> "${section}" "${subsection}"
//           ${Title}                       -> Nothing, variable expansion
//
//      3) _DBE_expression_list():
//
//           builds a vector of unbracketed whitespace separated strings, i.e.
//
//           "  ${Number}.a ${: Das Marmorbild} AB-${& Author= ${Eichendorf}-1870}"
//
//           is split into a vector
//
//              [0] ${Number}.a
//              [1] ${: Das Marmorbild}
//              [2] AB-${& Author= ${Eichendorf}}-1870
//
//           Each sub-expression is expanded using expand().
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
inline std::string
GetPot::_DBE_expand_string(const std::string& str)
{
  // Parses for closing operators '${ }' and expands them letting
  // white spaces and other letters as they are.
  std::string   new_string = "";
  unsigned open_brackets = 0;
  unsigned first = 0;
  for (unsigned i = 0;  i<str.size(); i++)
    {
      if (i < str.size() - 2 && str.substr(i, 2) == "${")
        {
          if (open_brackets == 0)
            first = i+2;
          open_brackets++;
        }
      else if (str[i] == '}' && open_brackets > 0)
        {
          open_brackets -= 1;
          if (open_brackets == 0)
            {
              const std::string Replacement = _DBE_expand(str.substr(first, i - first));
              new_string += Replacement;
            }
        }
      else if (open_brackets == 0)
        new_string += str[i];
    }
  return new_string;
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::_DBE_get_expr_list(const std::string& str_, const unsigned ExpectedNumber)
{
  // ensures that the resulting vector has the expected number
  // of arguments, but they may contain an error message
  std::string str = str_;
  // Separates expressions by non-bracketed whitespaces, expands them
  // and puts them into a list.

  unsigned i=0;
  // (1) eat initial whitespaces
  for (; i < str.size(); i++)
    if (!isspace(str[i]))
      break;

  STRING_VECTOR   expr_list;
  unsigned         open_brackets = 0;
  std::vector<unsigned> start_idx;
  unsigned         start_new_string = i;
  unsigned         l = (unsigned)(str.size());

  // (2) search for ${ } expressions ...
  while (i < l)
    {
      const char letter = str[i];
      // whitespace -> end of expression
      if (isspace(letter) && open_brackets == 0)
        {
          expr_list.push_back(str.substr(start_new_string, i - start_new_string));
          bool no_breakout_f = true;
          for (i++; i < l ; i++)
            {
              if (!isspace(str[i]))
                {
                  no_breakout_f = false;
                  start_new_string = i;
                  break;
                }
            }

          if (no_breakout_f)
            {
              // end of expression list
              if (expr_list.size() < ExpectedNumber)
                {
                  const std::string   pre_tmp("<< ${ }: missing arguments>>");
                  STRING_VECTOR tmp(ExpectedNumber - expr_list.size(), pre_tmp);
                  expr_list.insert(expr_list.end(), tmp.begin(), tmp.end());
                }
              return expr_list;
            }
        }

      // dollar-bracket expression
      if (str.length() >= i+2 && str.substr(i, 2) == "${")
        {
          open_brackets++;
          start_idx.push_back(i+2);
        }

      else if (letter == '}' && open_brackets > 0)
        {
          int start = start_idx[start_idx.size()-1];
          start_idx.pop_back();
          const std::string Replacement = _DBE_expand(str.substr(start, i-start));
          if (start - 3 < (int)0)
            str = Replacement + str.substr(i+1);
          else
            str = str.substr(0, start-2) + Replacement + str.substr(i+1);
          l = (int)(str.size());
          i = start + (int)(Replacement.size()) - 3;
          open_brackets--;
        }
      i++;
    }

  // end of expression list
  expr_list.push_back(str.substr(start_new_string, i-start_new_string));

  if (expr_list.size() < ExpectedNumber)
    {
      const std::string   pre_tmp("<< ${ }: missing arguments>>");
      STRING_VECTOR tmp(ExpectedNumber - expr_list.size(), pre_tmp);
      expr_list.insert(expr_list.end(), tmp.begin(), tmp.end());
    }

  return expr_list;
}



inline const GetPot::variable*
GetPot::_DBE_get_variable(const std::string& VarName)
{
  static GetPot::variable ev;
  std::string secure_Prefix = prefix;

  prefix = section;
  // (1) first search in currently active section
  const GetPot::variable* var = _request_variable(VarName.c_str());
  if (var != 0)
    {
      prefix = secure_Prefix;
      return var;
    }

  // (2) search in root name space
  prefix = "";
  var = _request_variable(VarName.c_str());
  if (var != 0)
    {
      prefix = secure_Prefix;
      return var;
    }

  prefix = secure_Prefix;

  // error occured => variable name == ""
  ev.original = "<<${ } variable '";
  ev.original += VarName + "' undefined>>";
  return &ev;
}



inline std::string
GetPot::_DBE_expand(const std::string& expr)
{
  // ${: } pure text
  if (expr[0] == ':')
    return expr.substr(1);

  // ${& expr expr ... } text concatination
  else if (expr[0] == '&')
    {
      const STRING_VECTOR A = _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(1), 1);

      STRING_VECTOR::const_iterator it = A.begin();
      std::string result = *it++;
      for (; it != A.end(); ++it) result += *it;

      return result;
    }

  // ${<-> expr expr expr} text replacement
  else if (expr.length() >= 3 && expr.substr(0, 3) == "<->")
    {
      STRING_VECTOR A = _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(3), 3);
      size_t tmp = 0;
      const size_t L = A[1].length();

      while ((tmp = A[0].find(A[1])) != std::string::npos)
        A[0].replace(tmp, L, A[2]);

      return A[0];
    }

  // ${=func [expr...] } function evaluation
  else if (expr.length() >= 2 &&
           expr.substr(0, 1) == "=" &&
           expr.substr(0, 2) != "==")
    {
      size_t funcnamestart = expr.find_first_not_of(" \t", 1);
      if (funcnamestart != std::string::npos)
        {
          size_t funcnameend = expr.find_first_of(" \t",funcnamestart);
          std::string funcname = expr.substr(funcnamestart,
                                             funcnameend-funcnamestart);
          if (funcname == "log")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::log(arg));
            }
          else if (funcname == "log10")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::log10(arg));
            }
          else if (funcname == "exp")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::exp(arg));
            }
          else if (funcname == "sin")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::sin(arg));
            }
          else if (funcname == "cos")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::cos(arg));
            }
          else if (funcname == "tan")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::tan(arg));
            }
          else if (funcname == "asin")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::asin(arg));
            }
          else if (funcname == "acos")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::acos(arg));
            }
          else if (funcname == "atan")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::atan(arg));
            }
          else if (funcname == "atan2")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 2);
              double arg1 = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              double arg2 = _convert_to_type(A[1], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::atan2(arg1, arg2));
            }
          else if (funcname == "sinh")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::sinh(arg));
            }
          else if (funcname == "cosh")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::cosh(arg));
            }
          else if (funcname == "tanh")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::tanh(arg));
            }
#ifdef HAVE_INVERSE_HYPERBOLIC_SINE
          else if (funcname == "asinh")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::asinh(arg));
            }
#endif
#ifdef HAVE_INVERSE_HYPERBOLIC_COSINE
          else if (funcname == "acosh")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::acosh(arg));
            }
#endif
#ifdef HAVE_INVERSE_HYPERBOLIC_TANGENT
          else if (funcname == "atanh")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::atanh(arg));
            }
#endif
          else if (funcname == "sqrt")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::sqrt(arg));
            }
          else if (funcname == "abs")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::abs(arg));
            }
          else if (funcname == "max")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              STRING_VECTOR::const_iterator it = A.begin();
              double result = _convert_to_type(*it++, 0.0);
              for (; it != A.end(); ++it)
                result = std::max(result, _convert_to_type(*it, 0.0));
              return _convert_from_type(result);
            }
          else if (funcname == "min")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              STRING_VECTOR::const_iterator it = A.begin();
              double result = _convert_to_type(*it++, 0.0);
              for (; it != A.end(); ++it)
                result = std::min(result, _convert_to_type(*it, 0.0));
              return _convert_from_type(result);
            }
          else if (funcname == "ceil")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::ceil(arg));
            }
          else if (funcname == "floor")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              double arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::floor(arg));
            }
          else if (funcname == "fmod")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 2);
              double arg1 = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0.0);
              double arg2 = _convert_to_type(A[1], 0.0);
              return _convert_from_type(std::fmod(arg1, arg2));
            }
          else if (funcname == "srand")
            {
              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              unsigned int arg = _convert_to_type(A[0], 0u);
              std::srand(arg);
              return A[0];
            }
          // ${=rand range} with default range==RAND_MAX
          else if (funcname == "rand")
            {
              if (funcnameend >= expr.length() ||
                  expr.find_first_not_of(" \t", funcnameend) == std::string::npos)
                return _convert_from_type(std::rand());

              STRING_VECTOR A =
                _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(funcnameend), 1);
              unsigned int range = _convert_to_type(A[0],0u);
              if (!range)
                return _convert_from_type(0);
              const unsigned int x = (RAND_MAX + 1u) / range;
              const unsigned int y = x * range;
              unsigned int returnval;
              do
                {
                  returnval = rand();
                } while (returnval >= y);
              return _convert_from_type(returnval / x);
            }
          else if (funcname == "time")
            return _convert_from_type(std::time(NULL));
          else
            {
              getpot_cerr << "ERROR: unrecognized function "
                          << funcname << std::endl;
              getpot_error();
            }
        }
    }

  // ${+ ...}, ${- ...}, ${* ...}, ${/ ...} expressions
  else if (expr[0] == '+')
    {
      STRING_VECTOR A = _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(1), 2);
      STRING_VECTOR::const_iterator it = A.begin();
      double result = _convert_to_type(*it++, 0.0);
      for (; it != A.end(); ++it)
        result += _convert_to_type(*it, 0.0);

      return _convert_from_type(result);
    }
  else if (expr[0] == '-')
    {
      STRING_VECTOR A = _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(1), 2);
      STRING_VECTOR::const_iterator it = A.begin();
      double result = _convert_to_type(*it++, 0.0);
      for (; it != A.end(); ++it)
        result -= _convert_to_type(*it, 0.0);

      return _convert_from_type(result);
    }
  else if (expr[0] == '*')
    {
      STRING_VECTOR A = _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(1), 2);
      STRING_VECTOR::const_iterator it = A.begin();
      double result = _convert_to_type(*it++, 0.0);
      for (; it != A.end(); ++it)
        result *= _convert_to_type(*it, 0.0);

      return _convert_from_type(result);
    }
  else if (expr[0] == '/')
    {
      STRING_VECTOR A = _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(1), 2);
      STRING_VECTOR::const_iterator it = A.begin();
      double result = _convert_to_type(*it++, 0.0);
      if (result == 0)
        return "0.0";

      for (; it != A.end(); ++it)
        {
          const double Q = _convert_to_type(*it, 0.0);
          result /= Q;
        }
      return _convert_from_type(result);
    }

  // ${^ ... } power expressions
  else if (expr[0] == '^')
    {
      STRING_VECTOR A = _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(1), 2);
      STRING_VECTOR::const_iterator it = A.begin();
      double result = _convert_to_type(*it++, 0.0);
      for (; it != A.end(); ++it)
        result = pow(result, _convert_to_type(*it, 0.0));
      return _convert_from_type(result);
    }

  // ${==  } ${<=  } ${>= } comparisons (return the number of the first 'match'
  else if (expr.length() >= 2 &&
           (expr.substr(0,2) == "==" || expr.substr(0,2) == ">=" ||
            expr.substr(0,2) == "<=" || expr[0] == '>'           || expr[0] == '<'))
    {
      // differentiate between two and one sign operators
      unsigned op = 0;
      enum { EQ, GEQ, LEQ, GT, LT };

      if (expr.substr(0, 2) == "==")
        op = EQ;

      else if (expr.substr(0, 2) == ">=")
        op = GEQ;

      else if (expr.substr(0, 2) == "<=")
        op = LEQ;

      else if (expr[0] == '>')
        op = GT;

      else
        op = LT;

      STRING_VECTOR a;
      if (op == GT || op == LT)
        a = _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(1), 2);

      else
        a = _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(2), 2);

      std::string   x_orig = a[0];
      double   x = _convert_to_type(x_orig, 1e37);
      unsigned i = 1;

      STRING_VECTOR::const_iterator y_orig = a.begin();
      for (y_orig++; y_orig != a.end(); ++y_orig)
        {
          double y = _convert_to_type(*y_orig, 1e37);

          // set the strings as reference if one wasn't a number
          if (x == 1e37 || y == 1e37)
            {
              // it's a string comparison
              if ((op == EQ  && x_orig == *y_orig) || (op == GEQ && x_orig >= *y_orig) ||
                  (op == LEQ && x_orig <= *y_orig) || (op == GT  && x_orig >  *y_orig) ||
                  (op == LT  && x_orig <  *y_orig))
                return _convert_from_type(i);
            }
          else
            {
              // it's a number comparison
              if ((op == EQ  && x == y) || (op == GEQ && x >= y) ||
                  (op == LEQ && x <= y) || (op == GT  && x >  y) ||
                  (op == LT  && x <  y))
                return _convert_from_type(i);
            }
          i++;
        }

      // nothing fulfills the condition => return 0
      return "0";
    }

  // ${?? expr expr} select
  else if (expr.length() >= 2 && expr.substr(0, 2) == "??")
    {
      STRING_VECTOR a = _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(2), 2);
      double x = _convert_to_type(a[0], 1e37);

      // last element is always the default argument
      if (x == 1e37 || x < 0 || x >= a.size() - 1)
        return a[a.size()-1];

      // round x to closest integer
      return a[int(x+0.5)];
    }

  // ${? expr expr expr} if then else conditions
  else if (expr[0] == '?')
    {
      STRING_VECTOR a = _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(1), 2);

      if (_convert_to_type(a[0], 0.0) == 1.0)
        return a[1];

      else if (a.size() > 2)
        return a[2];
    }
  // ${! expr} maxro expansion
  else if (expr[0] == '!')
    {
      const GetPot::variable* Var = _DBE_get_variable(expr.substr(1));
      // error
      if (Var->name == "")
        return std::string(Var->original);

      const STRING_VECTOR A = _DBE_get_expr_list(Var->original, 2);
      return A[0];
    }
  // ${@: } - string subscription
  else if (expr.length() >= 2 && expr.substr(0,2) == "@:")
    {
      const STRING_VECTOR A = _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(2), 2);
      double x = _convert_to_type(A[1], 1e37);

      // last element is always the default argument
      if (x == 1e37 || x < 0 || x >= A[0].size() - 1)
        return "<<1st index out of range>>";

      if (A.size() > 2)
        {
          double y = _convert_to_type(A[2], 1e37);
          if (y != 1e37 && y > 0 && y <= A[0].size() - 1 && y > x)
            return A[0].substr(int(x+0.5), int(y+1.5) - int(x+0.5));

          else if (y == -1)
            return A[0].substr(int(x+0.5));

          return "<<2nd index out of range>>";
        }
      else
        {
          char* tmp = new char[2];
          tmp[0] = A[0][int(x+0.5)]; tmp[1] = '\0';
          std::string result(tmp);
          delete [] tmp;
          return result;
        }
    }
  // ${@ } - vector subscription
  else if (expr[0] == '@')
    {
      STRING_VECTOR          A   = _DBE_get_expr_list(expr.substr(1), 2);
      const GetPot::variable* Var = _DBE_get_variable(A[0]);
      // error
      if (Var->name == "")
        {
          // make a copy of the string if an error occured
          // (since the error variable is a static variable inside get_variable())
          return std::string(Var->original);
        }

      double x = _convert_to_type(A[1], 1e37);

      // last element is always the default argument
      if (x == 1e37 || x < 0 || x >= Var->value.size())
        return "<<1st index out of range>>";

      if (A.size() > 2)
        {
          double y = _convert_to_type(A[2], 1e37);
          int    begin = int(x+0.5);
          int    end = 0;
          if (y != 1e37 && y > 0 && y <= Var->value.size() && y > x)
            end = int(y+1.5);
          else if (y == -1)
            end = int(Var->value.size());
          else
            return "<<2nd index out of range>>";

          std::string result = *(Var->get_element(begin));
          for (int i = begin+1; i < end; i++)
            result += std::string(" ") + *(Var->get_element(i));
          return result;
        }
      else
        return *(Var->get_element(int(x+0.5)));
    }

  const STRING_VECTOR    A = _DBE_get_expr_list(expr, 1);
  const GetPot::variable* B = _DBE_get_variable(A[0]);

  // make a copy of the string if an error occured
  // (since the error variable is a static variable inside get_variable())
  if (B->name == "")
    return std::string(B->original);

  // (psuggs@pobox.com mentioned to me the warning MSVC++6.0 produces
  //  with:  else return B->original (thanks))
  return B->original;
}



// (*) unidentified flying objects
//.............................................................................
//
inline bool
GetPot::_search_string_vector(const STRING_VECTOR& VecStr, const std::string& Str) const
{
  victorate(std::string, VecStr, itk)
    {
      if (*itk == Str)
        return true;
    }
  return false;
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_arguments(unsigned Number,
                               const char* KnownArgument1, ...) const
{
  std::set<std::string> known_arguments;

  // (1) create a vector of known arguments
  if (Number == 0)
    return STRING_VECTOR();

  va_list ap;
  va_start(ap, KnownArgument1);
  known_arguments.insert(std::string(KnownArgument1));
  for (unsigned i=1; i<Number; i++)
    known_arguments.insert(std::string(va_arg(ap, char *)));
  va_end(ap);

  return unidentified_arguments(known_arguments);
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_arguments() const
{
  return unidentified_arguments(_requested_arguments);
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_arguments(const std::vector<std::string>& Knowns) const
{
  // We use set for efficiency, but want to support vector inputs for
  // backwards compatibility.
  return unidentified_arguments(std::set<std::string> (Knowns.begin(), Knowns.end()));
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_arguments(const std::set<std::string>& Knowns) const
{
  STRING_VECTOR ufos;
  STRING_VECTOR::const_iterator it = argv.begin();
  ++it; // forget about argv[0] (application or filename)
  for (; it != argv.end(); ++it)
    {
      // -- argument belongs to prefixed section ?
      const std::string arg = _get_remaining_string(*it, prefix);
      if (arg == "")
        continue;

      // -- check if in list
      if (Knowns.find(arg) == Knowns.end())
        ufos.push_back(*it);
    }
  return ufos;
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_options(unsigned Number,
                             const char* KnownOption1, ...) const
{
  std::set<std::string> known_options;

  // (1) create a vector of known arguments
  if (Number == 0)
    return STRING_VECTOR();

  va_list ap;
  va_start(ap, KnownOption1);
  known_options.insert(std::string(KnownOption1));
  for (unsigned i=1; i<Number; i++)
    known_options.insert(std::string(va_arg(ap, char *)));
  va_end(ap);

  return unidentified_options(known_options);
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_options() const
{
  // -- every option is an argument.
  // -- the set of requested arguments contains the set of requested options.
  // -- IF the set of requested arguments contains unrequested options,
  //    THEN they were requested as 'follow' and 'next' arguments and not as real options.
  //
  // => it is not necessary to separate requested options from the list
  return unidentified_arguments(_requested_arguments);
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_options(const std::vector<std::string>& Knowns) const
{
  // We use set for efficiency, but want to support vector inputs for
  // backwards compatibility.
  return unidentified_options(std::set<std::string> (Knowns.begin(), Knowns.end()));
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_options(const std::set<std::string>& Knowns) const
{
  STRING_VECTOR ufos;
  STRING_VECTOR::const_iterator it = argv.begin();
  ++it; // forget about argv[0] (application or filename)
  for (; it != argv.end(); ++it)
    {
      // -- argument belongs to prefixed section ?
      const std::string arg = _get_remaining_string(*it, prefix);
      if (arg == "")
        continue;

      // is argument really an option (starting with '-') ?
      if (arg.length() < 1 || arg[0] != '-')
        continue;

      if (Knowns.find(arg) == Knowns.end())
        ufos.push_back(*it);
    }

  return ufos;
}



// Two modes:
//  ArgumentNumber >= 0 check specific argument
//  ArgumentNumber == -1 check all options starting with one '-'
//                       for flags
inline std::string
GetPot::unidentified_flags(const char* KnownFlagList, int ArgumentNumber=-1) const
{
  std::string         ufos;
  // STRING_VECTOR known_arguments;
  std::string         KFL(KnownFlagList);

  // (2) iteration over '-' arguments (options)
  if (ArgumentNumber == -1)
    {
      STRING_VECTOR::const_iterator it = argv.begin();
      ++it; // forget about argv[0] (application or filename)
      for (; it != argv.end(); ++it)
        {
          // -- argument belongs to prefixed section ?
          const std::string arg = _get_remaining_string(*it, prefix);
          if (arg == "") continue;

          // -- does arguments start with '-' (but not '--')
          if (arg.length() < 2)
            continue;

          else if (arg[0] != '-')
            continue;

          else if (arg[1] == '-')
            continue;

          // -- check out if flags inside option are contained in KnownFlagList
          const char* p=arg.c_str();
          p++; // skip starting minus
          for (; *p != '\0' ; p++)
            if (KFL.find(*p) == std::string::npos) ufos += *p;
        }
    }
  // (1) check specific argument
  else
    {
      // -- only check arguments that start with prefix
      int no_matches = 0;
      for (unsigned i=1; i<argv.size(); i++)
        {
          const std::string Remain = _get_remaining_string(argv[i], prefix);
          if (Remain != "")
            {
              no_matches++;
              if (no_matches == ArgumentNumber)
                {
                  // -- the right argument number inside the section is found
                  // => check it for flags
                  const char* p = Remain.c_str();
                  p++; // skip starting minus
                  for (; *p != '\0' ; p++)
                    if (KFL.find(*p) == std::string::npos) ufos += *p;
                  return ufos;
                }
            }
        }
    }
  return ufos;
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_variables(unsigned Number,
                               const char* KnownVariable1, ...) const
{
  std::set<std::string> known_variables;

  // create vector of known arguments
  if (Number == 0)
    return STRING_VECTOR();

  va_list ap;
  va_start(ap, KnownVariable1);
  known_variables.insert(std::string(KnownVariable1));
  for (unsigned i=1; i<Number; i++)
    known_variables.insert(std::string(va_arg(ap, char *)));
  va_end(ap);

  return unidentified_variables(known_variables);
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_variables(const std::vector<std::string>& Knowns) const
{
  // We use set for efficiency, but want to support vector inputs for
  // backwards compatibility.
  return unidentified_variables(std::set<std::string> (Knowns.begin(), Knowns.end()));
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_variables(const std::set<std::string>& Knowns) const
{
  STRING_VECTOR ufos;

  victorate(GetPot::variable, variables, it)
    {
      // -- check if variable has specific prefix
      const std::string var_name = _get_remaining_string((*it).name, prefix);
      if (var_name == "")
        continue;

      // -- check if variable is known
      if (Knowns.find(var_name) == Knowns.end())
        ufos.push_back((*it).name);
    }
  return ufos;
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_variables() const
{
  return unidentified_variables(_requested_variables);
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_sections(unsigned Number,
                              const char* KnownSection1, ...) const
{
  std::set<std::string> known_sections;

  // (1) create a vector of known arguments
  if (Number == 0)
    return STRING_VECTOR();

  va_list ap;
  va_start(ap, KnownSection1);
  known_sections.insert(std::string(KnownSection1));
  for (unsigned i=1; i<Number; i++)
    {
      std::string tmp = std::string(va_arg(ap, char *));

      if (tmp.length() == 0)
        continue;

      if (tmp[tmp.length()-1] != '/')
        tmp += '/';

      known_sections.insert(tmp);
    }
  va_end(ap);

  return unidentified_sections(known_sections);
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_sections() const
{
  return unidentified_sections(_requested_sections);
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_sections(const std::vector<std::string>& Knowns) const
{
  // We use set for efficiency, but want to support vector inputs for
  // backwards compatibility.
  return unidentified_sections(std::set<std::string> (Knowns.begin(), Knowns.end()));
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_sections(const std::set<std::string>& Knowns) const
{
  STRING_VECTOR ufos;

  victorate(std::string, section_list, it)
    {
      // -- check if section conform to prefix
      const std::string sec_name = _get_remaining_string(*it, prefix);
      if (sec_name == "")
        continue;

      // -- check if section is known
      if (Knowns.find(sec_name) == Knowns.end())
        ufos.push_back(*it);
    }

  return ufos;
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_nominuses(unsigned Number, const char* Known, ...) const
{
  std::set<std::string> known_nominuses;

  // create vector of known arguments
  if (Number == 0)
    return STRING_VECTOR();

  va_list ap;
  va_start(ap, Known);
  known_nominuses.insert(std::string(Known));
  for (unsigned i=1; i<Number; i++)
    {
      std::string tmp = std::string(va_arg(ap, char *));
      if (tmp.length() == 0)
        continue;
      known_nominuses.insert(tmp);
    }
  va_end(ap);

  return unidentified_nominuses(known_nominuses);
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_nominuses() const
{
  // -- every nominus is an argument.
  // -- the set of requested arguments contains the set of requested nominuss.
  // -- IF the set of requested arguments contains unrequested nominuss,
  //    THEN they were requested as 'follow' and 'next' arguments and not as real nominuses.
  //
  // => it is not necessary to separate requested nominus from the list

  return unidentified_nominuses(_requested_arguments);
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_nominuses(const std::vector<std::string>& Knowns) const
{
  // We use set for efficiency, but want to support vector inputs for
  // backwards compatibility.
  return unidentified_nominuses(std::set<std::string> (Knowns.begin(), Knowns.end()));
}



inline STRING_VECTOR
GetPot::unidentified_nominuses(const std::set<std::string>& Knowns) const
{
  STRING_VECTOR ufos;

  // (2) iterate over all arguments
  STRING_VECTOR::const_iterator it = argv.begin();
  ++it; // forget about argv[0] (application or filename)
  for (; it != argv.end(); ++it)
    {
      // -- check if nominus part of prefix
      const std::string arg = _get_remaining_string(*it, prefix);
      if (arg == "")
        continue;

      if (arg.length() < 1)
        continue;

      // option ? --> not a nomius
      if (arg[0] == '-')
        continue;

      // section ? --> not a real nominus
      if (arg[0] == '[' && arg[arg.length()-1] == ']')
        continue;

      // variable definition ? --> not a real nominus
      bool continue_f = false;
      for (unsigned i=0; i<arg.length() ; i++)
        if (arg[i] == '=')
          {
            continue_f = true;
            break;
          }

      if (continue_f)
        continue;

      // real nominuses are compared with the given list
      if (Knowns.find(arg) == Knowns.end())
        ufos.push_back(*it);
    }
  return ufos;
}



// (*) variable class
//.............................................................................
//
inline
GetPot::variable::variable()
  : name(),
    value(),
    original()
{}



inline
GetPot::variable::variable(const variable& Other)
{
#ifdef WIN32
  operator=(Other);
#else
  GetPot::variable::operator=(Other);
#endif
}



inline
GetPot::variable::variable(const char* Name, const char* Value, const char* FieldSeparator)
  : name(Name)
{
  // make a copy of the 'Value'
  take(Value, FieldSeparator);
}



inline const std::string*
GetPot::variable::get_element(unsigned Idx) const
{
  if (Idx >= value.size())
    return 0;
  else
    return &(value[Idx]);
}



inline void
GetPot::variable::take(const char* Value, const char* FieldSeparator)
{
  original = std::string(Value); // string member var
  value.clear();                 // vector<string> member var

  /*
  // separate string by white space delimiters using 'strtok'
  // thread safe usage of strtok (no static members)
  char* spt = 0;
  // make a copy of the 'Value'
  char* copy = new char[strlen(Value)+1];
  strcpy(copy, Value);
  char* follow_token = strtok_r(copy, FieldSeparator, &spt);
  while (follow_token != 0)
  {
  value.push_back(std::string(follow_token));
  follow_token = strtok_r(NULL, FieldSeparator, &spt);
  }

  delete [] copy;
  */

  // Don't use strtok, instead tokenize the input char "Value" using std::string operations so
  // that the results end up in the local "value" member

  // Construct std::string objects from the input char*s.  I think the only
  // FieldSeparator recognized by GetPot is whitespace?
  std::string Value_str = std::string(Value);
  std::string delimiters = std::string(FieldSeparator);

  // Skip delimiters at beginning.
  std::string::size_type lastPos = Value_str.find_first_not_of(delimiters, 0);

  // Find first "non-delimiter".
  std::string::size_type pos     = Value_str.find_first_of(delimiters, lastPos);

  // Loop over the input string until all the tokens have been pushed back
  // into the local "value" member.
  while (std::string::npos != pos || std::string::npos != lastPos)
    {
      // Found a token, add it to the vector.
      value.push_back(Value_str.substr(lastPos, pos - lastPos));

      // Skip delimiters.  Note the "not_of"
      lastPos = Value_str.find_first_not_of(delimiters, pos);

      // Find next "non-delimiter"
      pos = Value_str.find_first_of(delimiters, lastPos);
    }

  // We're done, all the tokens should now be in the vector<string>
}

inline
GetPot::variable::~variable()
{}



inline GetPot::variable&
GetPot::variable::operator=(const GetPot::variable& Other)
{
  if (&Other != this)
    {
      name     = Other.name;
      value    = Other.value;
      original = Other.original;
    }
  return *this;
}

#ifdef GETPOT_NAMESPACE
}
#endif

#undef victorate

#endif // LIBMESH_GETPOT_H